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Core Conflict Resolution Tools
Grounding
Greeting Circle
Adaptive Learning
Worst / Best / Possibility Thinking
A Consensus Building Process
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The Circle
IF YOU:
LISTEN WITH RESPECT...
UNDERSTANDING,
TRUSTING,
LEARNING,
A NEW PERSPECTIVE
GROWING,
RESOLVING
ADAPTING
WILL RESULT.
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Grounding
Establishes a model for listening w/ respect, a
knowing that each person will be heard.
Establishes a verbal territory for each participant, a
sense of potential equity
Requires access to both the left & the right brain,
engaging the "whole brain”.
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Grounding (cont’d)
Allows apprehensions & hopes for the meeting to
be expressed.
Allows participants to express hidden agendas
(like leaving early, a flat tire, a sickness, etc.)
Brings people into the "here and now”
Provides initial information to the facilitator.
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Greeting Circle
Adapted from American Indian culture
Flesh-to-flesh connections – the human element
Potentially equalizes power
African learning – create “friendships” before
resolving conflict
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Adaptive Learning
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SITUATION?
WHAT DID YOU LEARN THAT WILL.....
• MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL?
• RESOLVE THE CONFLICT?
• RESOLVE THE IMPASSE?
• ETC.
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Worst Possible Outcomes
These are feared future outcomes, often based on
past experience, w/ a presently experienced
emotion & physical reaction. When people
believe them, they affect their perceptions, beliefs,
values & strategies. They tend to be self-fulfilling
prophecies when strongly held.
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Best Possible Outcomes
These are hoped for future outcomes, sometimes
not previously experienced, but intensely
imagined, w/ a presently experienced emotion &
physical response. When people believe them,
they affect their perceptions, beliefs, values &
strategies. They tend to be self-fulfilling
prophecies when strongly held.
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Possibility Thinking
An acknowledgment that both worst & best
outcomes are present & inherent in each moment,
up to, & often after the event. This balanced view
allows the movement toward desired outcomes.
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A Consensus Building Process
WHAT IS THE SITUATION? HOW DO I FEEL
ABOUT IT?
WHAT ARE MY WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
OF THE SITUATION?
WHAT ARE MY BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOMES OF
THE SITUATION?
WHAT BELIEFS / BEHAVIORS / STRATEGIES /
ACTIONS WILL FOSTER THE BEST OUTCOMES?
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THE REASONS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO INCREASE
PRODUCTIVITY BY 50% WITHOUT CHEMICAL
FERTILIZERS
We don’t like to work hard
The soil is too poor
The average farmer has no other ideas besides
chemical fertilizer that could increase production
that radically. If there is such a thing, we don’t
know about it.
Can’t be done without chemical fertilizer because
there isn’t enough rain, and the soil is too poor
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G I V E N T H AT I T ’S I M PO SSI B L E , I F I T W E R E
PO SSI B L E , W H AT W O U L D YO U D O T O
I N C R E ASE PR O D U C T I V I T Y B Y 50% W I T H O U T
C H E M I C AL F E R T I L I Z E R S?
Parking animals on the land to accumulate manure
Rotation
Leguminous trees (Acacia albida)
Contour barriers (lines of stones along the contour)
Fallow
Intercropping grains and leguminous plants OR
mixing small patches of different crops
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29 deaths in 1993 in region in one
incident
No violent conflict after two years of
this work as reported by Malian Rural
Sociologist
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Your turn: Adaptive Learning
How do you feel about this presentation?
What did you learn that will help you be
successful in understanding and practicing holistic
decision making?
